20 under 40 (2013)

Making a difference

Leading by example

Commitment to service

Building a strong community

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013 A SPECIAL PUBLICATIONTHE REPUBLIC

1425 California Street Columbus • 812-379-9566 • www.brandslumber.com

Congratulations Ryan BrandRyan is the third generation to lead the family-owned Brands, Inc. His grandparents Cal and Betty Brand established the business in 1967. Their philosophy of supplying customers with high quality products and outstanding service has been handed down through the generations.

Built on Relationships

Congratulations to Brooke Hawkins for being recognized as one of this

year’s 20 Under 40 recipients.

LOUIS JOYNER ARCHITECTCOMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL PRESERVATION

417 7TH STREET • COLUMBUS, INWWW.LJARCHITECT.COM

year’s 20 Under 40 recipients.

The offi ce of Louis Joyner Architect is proud to contribute our time and ideas to advance the community and perpetuate the Columbus design legacy.

2 SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013 THE REPUBLIC, COLUMBUS, IND.UNDER

PeoPle can contribute to their communities in a variety of ways, through their jobs, volunteer work and actions.

They dedicate their time and energy to benefiting the communities because they care.

In this special section, The Republic, in partnership with Columbus Young Professionals, is highlighting some younger adults in Bartholomew County who are making an impact through their contributions.

The project, 20 Under 40, includes 20

profiles of men and women younger than 40 from different backgrounds and professions, whose actions benefit Bartholomew County in different but equally important ways.

Some of the people have lived here many years, others just a few. others have come from different countries. However, all have embraced this commu-nity and try to make it better.

Those who were chosen received their award Thursday at the CYP annual meeting.

— Kirk Johannesen, city editor

Letter from the editor

What’s insideDawn Andrews Starting with nothing ............... 13Dr. Christopher Bartels Fixing more than teeth ...... 8Kim Bennett Efforts paying off ...........................17Ryan Brand Going into the family business .......... 6Anna Carmon Learning lifelong love .................. 23Ethan Crough Fostering spirit of diversity .......... 14Dr. Amanda Dornfeld Heart of service ................ 4Tracy Embree Owning your choices .................... 16Umar Farooq Ensuring strong community ......... 12Sarah Gehring Personal product: volunteering .... 3

Caitlin Greiner Sports more than games ........... 20Brooke Hawkins Better Columbus by design ......11Frances Jordan Fueling spirit of city ................... 21Hanna Omar Newcomer jumps right in ................ 9Jonathan Rohde Fulfilling obligation to serve ... 10Jennifer Shaver Driven to help .......................... 24Jonah Sims Helping broaden horizons ................ 19Rae-Leigh Stark Passion on two wheels ............ 15Mary Stroh Rising to the top .............................. 18Caleb Tennis Keeping Columbus in flight ........... 22

RADIO ad saleswoman Sarah Gehring has a simple explanation for her long list of commu-nity volunteer activities.

“I like to stay busy,” said Gehring, a sales profes-sional with WRZQ-FM radio in Columbus. She has worked nine years at QMIX 107.3, specializing in ad sales to medical professionals, banks and others.

But it’s the hours she spends reading to academi-cally challenged first- and second-graders or her volunteer hours trying to boost the membership of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce that has put Gehring on this year’s list of 20 professionals under the age of 40 deemed to be rising stars.

“Sarah has been a great advocate and volunteer, not only for the Chamber of Commerce but for the community at large,” said Amber Fischvogt, a Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce executive who works closely with Gehring on projects.

“She is one of those next-generation leaders who steps up, serves on committees and becomes an active participant. She volunteers her services without hesitation,” Fischvogt said. “Sarah puts her heart into it. She’s everywhere in the community.”

Fischvogt said Gehring’s sales background and comfort with social media have paid dividends in chamber recruitment efforts and in projects such as the 2012 Spend the Holidays Campaign, which encour-aged Columbus-area consumers to spend their Christmas shopping dollars with local merchants.

“Sarah’s passion for the local business community

came through as she assisted in doubling the receipts turned in from 2011,” Fischvogt said.

In the holiday campaign, consumers are asked to save receipts showing how much they spend at local stores, and they’re then able to turn in the paperwork to claim prizes.

Last year’s top prize was a holiday wreath sprin-kled with $1,000 worth of gift cards from area stores.

Gehring said her participation was driven by a desire to give back to Columbus.

“If people would just shift 10 percent of their holiday shopping to local stores, it would create anywhere from 200 to 400 jobs,” she said.

Gehring has made her career in sales after earning a two-year degree from Ivy Tech Community College more than a decade ago. Since then, she has worked in media classified advertising, retail sales and finally outside sales in the radio industry.

But she seems motivated by more than simply dollars and cents.

“I realized I was good at helping people,” Gehring said, a trait that has sparked her willingness to reach out to help children, teens and small business owners on various projects.

Gehring is a 2000 graduate of Columbus North High School and later earned an associate degree in business administration with a concentration in management.

Among recent community projects, Gehring reads to second-graders at Schmitt Elementary School as part of the Book Buddies program, which aims to improve children’s reading skills before they reach fourth grade.

Gehring said children who don’t achieve success in reading by that time have a higher risk of never graduating from high school.

“With Book Buddies, I spend an hour a week at the school. Children read to me, we play phonics games, and we work on sight recognition of words. The fun is building a relationship with a child, helping to mentor them,” Gehring said.

Principal Brett Boezeman said the program has boosted students’ reading skills, and adults get a lot out of it, too.

“You can tell the adults really look forward to being here and having one-on-one time with the students,” Boezeman said. The program tutors second- and third-graders, he said.

Gehring serves on the board of the Route 21 program, which teaches pregnant teens parenting skills and strives to keep them on a successful road to adulthood in terms of life skills and education.

She also works with the Fireman’s Cheer Fund, which provides toys for as many as 1,800 children at Christmas every year.

“It’s a massive undertaking with a goal of provid-ing four different gifts per child,” Gehring said.

Other projects in Gehring’s portfolio of giving back include serving on United Way’s Community Impact Review team and working on the 2012 Women’s Professional Development Conference for the Cham-ber of Commerce.

“Her passion for these organizations and helping others is evident for all to see,” Fischvogt said. “She brings a special set of skills to every group for which she volunteers.”

Sarah GehringAge: 31

Occupation: Ad saleswoman, WRZQ-FM radio, QMIX 107.3

Resides: Columbus

Family: Husband, Mike Gehring

Education: Associate degree in business administration (concentration in management) from Ivy Tech Community College

Leadership roles: Active in the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce on membership committee and Spend the Holidays Campaign to encourage consumer spending with local stores

Volunteer activities: Reads to public school children as part of Book Buddies program; serves on board of Route 21, which provides mentoring to pregnant teens; works with Turning Point dance marathon to raise money for the 22-bed Turning Point domestic violence shelter

THE REPUBLIC, COLUMBUS, IND. SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013 3UNDER

Randy McClain Andrew Laker

4 SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013 THE REPUBLIC, COLUMBUS, IND.

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DR. Amanda “Mandy” Dornfeld was looking for a place to practice family medicine. She

had heard Columbus was a nice place and checked the Columbus Regional Hospital website to learn more about it.

Originally from Indianapolis, with no connections here, she began looking for a job. She and her husband, David, took the leap of faith almost seven years ago, landing her at Sandcrest Family Medicine. They found a tight-knit community that felt like a perfect fit.

“We feel like it is the perfect size — small enough to know people but not so small that you can’t meet new people,” Dornfeld said. “We always kind of talk about circles, and it is nice that your circles interconnect. So you can kind of know people on many different levels and know people well because of that. We really like it a lot, a sense of community.”

Looking at the community, she saw a need for advocacy for breastfeeding and helped launch the Breastfeeding Coalition of Bartholomew County.

“That has always been something I have seen as a public health need,” Dornfeld said. “The breastfeeding coalition is not really a mom support group. It is more of a public policy group to kind of work on raising awareness and education and to change public policy to support breastfeeding. I think we are coming along really well.”

She said that the community’s largest employer, Cummins Inc., has outstanding breastfeeding support policies including lactation rooms in all facilities and a support group for moms on its campus.

Dornfeld said she grew up around breastfeeding. Her mother breastfed her children, as did her husband’s mother.

“Because I am a family doctor and I take care of moms and babies and deliver babies, that is something that I see in basically all facets of my job,” she said. “I see the importance. What I saw, that was the struggle and that was where I felt there was a real need, moms who say ‘I really want to do this,’ but there was really no resource.”

To help improve her understanding, she took a 40-hour course and is board-certified as a lactation consultant and can provide her patients with specialized information.

Beth Morris, director of community health partnerships at Columbus Regional Hospital, said the hospital has found that it takes a champion to lead its community initiatives.

“Mandy is an outstanding physician champion,” Morris said. “She is passion-ate. She is able to engage others around a common vision and able to harness the resources necessary to really move the community on breastfeeding rates.”

“Mandy knows that to successfully breastfeed requires some degree of family and community support. She has really been energized to make sure that our community provides the same level of support to other moms that she was able to receive when she was a new mom.”

Last fall, Dornfeld’s peers chose her as chief of staff-elect for Columbus Regional Hospital, the first woman to hold the position.

“It is really humbling,” Dornfeld said. “I still feel very new in this community, and this is a community where people have grown up here and know each other well, but it is a real honor. There are so many wonderful physicians and great leaders in our city that we are lucky that way. I just hope that I can do a good job.”

Jim Bickel, CEO of Columbus Regional Health, said Dornfeld works

tirelessly to help her patients to live healthier lives.

“Being an excellent doctor is more than clinical excellence,” Bickel said in the nomination letter for the 20 Under 40 award. “It involves a right attitude, aptitude, character, commitment, demeanor and, above all, a heart of service. I am always impressed by her passion and willingness to learn all she can to help her patients.”

Laura Garrett said she chose Dorn-feld as her doctor when she became pregnant. But Dornfeld’s manner of treating her more as a friend than a patient has led her to keep seeing Dornfeld. Garrett said Dornfeld’s advice and knowledge in the breastfeeding field helped make the choice easy.

“I definitely struggled breastfeeding, but I had the goal in my mind to do that for my daughter,” Garrett said. “It was good to have her there and encouraging that and being really supportive, answering any questions and being really open about it.”

Dornfeld and her husband are active as small-group leaders in Community

Church of Columbus.“Every single Friday night, our

small group meets, and we have dinner together and our kids are here,” Dornfeld said. “And we study together and fellowship together, so that is a really important part of what we do.”

She said the small group tries several times a year to do volunteer outreach events. She said she wishes she could do more.

“It seems like when you are busy parents it is never as much as you want it to be,” Dornfeld said.

Dr. David Thompson, the hospital’s current chief of staff, said he has been impressed by her dedication to her family, her patients and the hospital.

“I’m amazed by her ability to juggle all her responsibilities as a wife, mother and physician,” Thompson said.

Dornfeld said her ability to juggle so many things is aided by her husband, who is a stay-at-home dad.

“He does a really great job of letting me do what I do, and I couldn’t do anything if it weren’t for him,” Dornfeld said. “He could easily say, ‘You know what, you need to back off on some of this stuff and just be around more.’ But he knows that it is important. And he sees the importance for public health reasons for the breastfeeding. So that is time away from him and the kids, but he is 100 percent supportive of it.”

Dr. Amanda ‘Mandy’ DornfeldAge: 36

Occupation: Family physician at Sandcrest Family Medicine

Resides: Columbus

Education: Undergraduate degree, Valparaiso University; medical degree at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine; residency at Ball Memorial Family Practice Center in Muncie; board-certified as lactation consultant

Leadership roles: Chairman of Breastfeeding Coalition of Bartholomew County; chief of staff-elect at Columbus Regional Hospital; formerly the hospital’s family medicine section chief; former secretary of the medical executive committee; and current member of the quality management committee

Volunteer activities: Member and small-group leader at Community Church of Columbus

Hobbies, interests: Jogging, working out with trainer, reading

Family: David, husband; children, Luke, 7, Noah, 5 and Violet, 2

John Clark

Joe Harpring

Doc has ‘heart of service’


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Jeff Tryon Joe Harpring

COMMUNITY involvement has been way of life for Columbus City Council member Ryan Brand and his family.

His grandfather served on the Columbus City Council, his uncle has served on the council and various committees and commissions, and his father is the longest-serving member of the utility board.

“I’ve grown up in an environment of serving your community,” Brand said. “I’ve always felt like if I wanted to make it better, I needed to go out there and get it done.”

Brand, who was a diver for the Columbus North swim team, began his community service as a volunteer diving coach.

Eight years ago, he was asked to serve on the Columbus Parks and Recreation board. He’s served on the board for five years, two as president.

“My children love all the parks and the opportunities, so it was a great way for me to get involved, because my family and I are users of the resources they offer,” Brand said.

The parks board involvement led to others in the community, such as the plan commission and Columbus Area Arts Council.

In 2011, he set his sights on helping the community in another way, as a member of the City Council. Brand said he received encouragement from more seasoned hands.

“I didn’t really have any aspirations to run for City Council; I was pretty happy with my level of involvement,” Brand said. “I was approached by some community leaders who asked if I was interested in running. That was a catalyst for me. Because some mem-bers of the old leadership recognized me as someone who was young and new and said, ‘We think you would do a great job.’”

Brand said it seemed like the right opportunity because of what he called a changing of the guard at City Hall.

Serving on City Council puts him in touch with many organiza-tions, such as the Commons board, the incentive review committee and the arts district planning committee, Brand said.

“He is offering new leadership for Columbus at a time of significant generational transition,” said Jesse Brand, president of Brands Inc., a building materials supplier where Ryan is vice president. “He has fully accepted this challenge.”

Ryan Brand said the community is shaped by people who take some ownership.

“Everybody here has an opportunity to kind of craft what they want for this city,” he said. “There are opportunities out there to get involved, and it’s a wonderful way to build relationships with people in the community and learn things that you would never get to learn about this place if you didn’t take that opportunity.”

And like within his family, Ryan Brand thinks a new generation of leaders is emerging in the Columbus community.

“I think Columbus as a whole has recognized that there is this handing of the baton, this changing of the guard that’s going on with community leaders,” he said. “I have always felt the community has its best opportunity to really get something done when the old guard and the new guard are both holding that baton during the exchange.”

Ryan BrandAge: 39

Work description: Vice president at Brands, Inc., primarily involved in sales, but with many different responsibilities

Education background: Columbus North High School, Ball State University

Community involvement: Five years on the Columbus Parks and Recreation board, two as president; Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy board; Columbus City Council Incentive Review Committee; arts programming committee (two terms as president); Commons Board; serving first term on the City Council

Family: Daughters, Ellie, 11; Amelia, 7; Harper, 3

Dr. Bartels, Dr. Brich, andteam are dedicated to

making Columbus a better placeto smile!

TVs, Noise Canceling Headphones, & Fillings without a Shot!

4570 W. Jonathan Moore Pk. Columbus

812-342-3969 • www.TLDentist.com


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DR. Christopher Bartels’ business education began by helping his family operate an event venue in

Brown County when he was growing up.The lessons learned then have

helped the 29-year-old quickly make an impact in Bar-tholomew County.

Bartels bought the property for his dentist practice,

Tipton Lakes Family Dentist on the west side of Columbus, before he even finished dental school — a practice that has grown to 3,000 patients.

He said the greatest reward of his field is that “you can nearly guarantee success for a patient. If someone comes in with a lot of pain, they are pretty well assured that we’ll have them feeling better.”

Bartels speaks to other dentists about technology and how to start a practice, to area employers at health fairs and to parents of children with Down syndrome.

Bartels consults for health care products distributor Henry Schein Inc. That work entails speaking engage-ments to groups of dentists.

He also contributes resources to organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Columbus Signature Academy, Bartholomew County Little League, Mothers of Preschoolers and the Pregnancy Care Center.

The Brown County native’s family business is eXplore Brown County at Valley Branch Retreat. It’s a combina-tion paintball facility, event venue, series of zip lines and trails for biking and horseback riding.

His dad, Gary, runs it. Christopher’s

mother, Patricia, is a painter and art teacher at Brown County Junior High School.

Being involved in his family’s business works to Bartels’ advantage in shaping an organizational culture at his practice. He occasionally takes his staff to eXplore Brown County for retreats that include zip line rides, lunch chats and afternoon hikes.

“It’s good to get to know each other outside of work,” he said.

Bartels originally embarked on a pharmacy path at Butler University, where he studied three years before being accepted at the Indiana Universi-ty School of Dentistry. Once he switched to dentistry, he was convinced he’d found his niche.

“It’s meticulous, and I’ve always been that way. I did lots of construction growing up at the retreat,” he said.

Bartels opened the doors to his practice in June 2009.

“We purchased the building while I was still in dental school,” he said.

He and his wife, Jana, spent 15 months — months also spent in dentist-ry studies — renovating the building off Jonathan Moore Pike, which had sat idle for years and was overrun with vegetation.

“We’re across the board in the procedures we provide,” Bartels said, including oral surgery, implants, sedation and general dentistry.

He recently added Dr. Dennis Brich to the practice.

Ashley Reading, one of Bartels’ patients, said she likes his modest approach and professional attentiveness.

“He sees so many people, but he has a special relationship with each patient,” she said.

Dr. Christopher BartelsDr. Christopher BartelsDr. Christopher BartelsAge: 29

Occupation: Dentist and CEO, Dentist and CEO, Dentist and CEO, Tipton Lakes Family DentistTipton Lakes Family DentistTipton Lakes Family Dentist

Resides: Columbus: Columbus: Columbus

Family: Wife, Jana; two children, : Wife, Jana; two children, : Wife, Jana; two children, ages 3 and 1

Education: Butler University, : Butler University, : Butler University, three years toward biology and three years toward biology and three years toward biology and chemistry degrees; Indiana chemistry degrees; Indiana chemistry degrees; Indiana University, DDS

Volunteer activitiesVolunteer activitiesVolunteer activities: Public speaking

Hobbies, interestsHobbies, interestsHobbies, interests: Mountain biking, paintball, fishingbiking, paintball, fishingbiking, paintball, fishing

Working on more than teeth

Barney Quick

Joe Harpring


HANNA Omar arrived in Colum-bus in 2011. Despite moving to an unfamiliar place, she didn’t

hesitate and immediately got involved in her new community.

“A few weeks after I moved here, I showed up at the Red Cross building in Columbus and helped

paint a room,” she said.The participation hasn’t stopped for

the adjunct professor of Arabic and political science at IUPUC.

Omar is the fundraising coordina-tor for the Islamic Society of Colum-bus. She organizes events to bring members together and connect with the community.

She also is the president of the Middle East Association of Columbus, leading members in providing a welcoming forum for people of Middle Eastern origins.

Omar is a member of Columbus Area Multi-Ethnic Organization, which is

composed of nine area ethnic associa-tions that have joined together to share their cultures and traditions with each other and the Columbus area community.

“Hanna is a very motivated and proactive person when it comes to driving improvements into her community. She also is very passionate about breaking down perceived barriers in a diverse community and is committed to helping Columbus be a welcoming community,” said Annushka Chin Fong, an engineer at Cummins and a member of CAMEO.

Omar also serves as a representative of CAMEO on the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals.

“At the Board of Zoning Appeals meetings, Hanna always asks thought-ful questions regarding the cases that are presented to the board members,” said Melissa Begley, who is the assis-tant planning director for the City of Columbus-Bartholomew County Plan-ning Department. “I always know that she has thoroughly weighed the criteria before she makes any decision.”

Omar’s community involvement can be traced to the influences of her family

and her experiences prior to moving to Columbus.

Omar grew up in the Bronx, N.Y. She credits her mother with her own determination to help foreigners assimilate into the culture.

Her mother, Fatima Omar, emigrated from Yemen to the United States in the early 1970s. Their home always was open to strangers, and her mom’s willingness to help women new to the country had a significant impact on her while growing up.

“My mom didn’t speak English but was always a leader in her community,” Hanna Omar said. “She still is today.”

After high school, Omar attended Fordham University in New York City. In her senior year, she did an internship at the United Nations Public Inquiries Office in New York.

“That experience opened my mind to what’s going on in the world,” she said. “It was the beginning of my interest in international development and politics.”

After her internship, she began a master’s program with a major in political science. Shortly after graduation,

she spent two months in Egypt studying the Arabic language.

When she returned home to New York, she taught political science and Arabic. She also was involved in the American Association of Yemini Scientists and Professionals, a national organization that promotes academic success of Yemini-Americans.

In 2008, Omar worked for UNICEF. She served as consultant on many projects and later opened a store in the Bronx that sold Islamic clothing and accessories.

“My mother still runs the store,” Hanna Omar said. “It isn’t just a clothing store, it’s a place where women can sit and talk about their life and share their stories.”

Hanna Omar’s advice to all newcom-ers to a community is to be a leader, take initiative and make a difference where you live.

“A leader doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be on a board,” she said. “You can be a leader in other ways. Step out of your comfort zone and get involved in the community.”

Newcomer wastes little time in becoming involved in community

Hanna OmarAge: 31.

Occupation: Adjunct professor of Arabic and political science at IUPUC; fundraising coordinator at Islamic Society of North America

Resides: Columbus

Family: Husband, Nebil Baqhum

Education: Bachelor of Arts from Fordham University with majors in political science and Middle East studies, 2004; master’s degree from Fordham University with major in political science, 2005

Leadership roles: Columbus Area Multi-Ethnic Association (coordinator of CAMEO’s 2013 film series)

Personal and professional memberships: Middle East Association (current president)

Volunteer activities: CAMEO, Board of Zoning, Islamic Society of Columbus, Middle East Association

Hobbies, interests: Volunteering, reading, walking

Karen E. Farley

Andrew Laker


UNDER

WHEN 6-year-old Jonathan Rohde received a plastic badge as a gift, he wore it with pride. In 2001, he earned

a metal badge and fulfilled his childhood dream of being a police officer and helping others.

“It was my combined interest in the law and sense of duty and obligation to serve that made me want to become a police officer,” said

Rohde, administrative captain with Colum-bus Police Department.

His desire to serve people has extended beyond law enforcement. Rohde is an attorney, and he’s been involved with the Police Athletic Activities League and the Shop With a Cop program.

PAAL is a sports program that brings young children, under the supervision of law officers, to serve as role models who can help kids learn important values. Shop With a Cop pairs children from low-income families with local law enforcement officers during the holidays to shop for clothing and toys, and it provides a positive experience with police officers.

“We constantly encourage all our officers to be actively involved in our community through volunteer work. Jon exemplifies this effort,” Columbus Police Chief Jason Maddix said. “He serves as a leader when necessary

but recognizes the importance of being a servant, allowing others the chance to lead. Police officers are professionals and leaders in the community, not only on-duty but off-duty as well.”

Rohde’s professionalism and leadership skills make him a valuable asset to the community, Maddix added.

“Jon is a true professional in every sense of the word,” Maddix said. “He is well-educated and highly motivated. His values and character only help solidify his amazing work product.”

Rohde grew up in Bremen, a small town in northern Indiana. His parents, the Rev. Roger Rohde and the late Jeri Rohde, raised Jon and his four siblings. Jon said his parents’ support and encouragement and the values and beliefs they instilled in the children motivate him in his daily life.

After graduating from Indiana University, Rohde moved to Columbus and joined the Columbus Police Department as a uniform officer. He was identified as a high performer and served as mentor and trainer for new recruits. Rohde also received an appointment to the SWAT team while he was a patrolman.

In January 2012, Rohde was promoted to captain of the investigation division with the department.

“Jon has been employed with CPD for 12 years. During that time, he has demonstrated impressive leadership skills and has quickly risen through our ranks. At 34 years of age,

he is one of the youngest officers ever promoted to such a high rank,” Maddix said.

Rohde considers Maddix instrumental to his career as a police officer.

“Jason has helped me expand my limited view of service to the community,” Rohde said. “He has helped me to understand that this service is vast and ever-evolving.”

The Rev. Mark Teike, senior pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Columbus, where Rohde is a member, said Rohde’s faith is evident in how he helps people in need.

“One of the things I appreciate about Jonathan is that he sees his work as a ministry,” Teike said. “He genuinely cares about the people he is dealing with.”

Rohde’s desire to learn more led him to seek a law degree. In 2008, he formed the Worton and Rohde Law Firm (now Rohde Law Firm) with Jim Worton, a former CPD chief and detective and now judge of Superi-or Court I in Bartholomew County.

“Jim was instrumental in making me the officer that I am today,” Rohde said. “He was one of my training officers when I first came here, and I consider him one of my mentors.”

Rohde said he hopes everyone has some-one they consider to be their role model.

“It’s important for young people to accept the responsibility of being role models to those who will follow them. It’s also impor-tant for older adults to mentor younger ones,” he said.

Police officer exemplifies servant leadership

Jonathan RohdeAge: 34

Occupation: Administrative captain at Columbus Police Department; attorney at Rohde Law Offices; adjunct professor at IUPUC

Resides: Columbus.

Family: Wife, Sarah; children, Falesha, 11, Klayton, 8, Bailey, 2, Emerson, 8 months

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University with majors in criminal justice and political science, 2000; doctor of jurisprudence degree from Indiana University in Indianapolis, 2007

Leadership roles: Past board member of Childhood Connections

Personal, professional membership: Fraternal Order of Police, Bartholomew County Bar Association, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church

Volunteer activities: Police Athletics Activities League, Shop With a Cop, past volunteer for Foundation for Youth and March of Dimes

Hobbies, interests: Spending time with family

Karen E. Farley

Shannon Shipley


Jenni L. Muncie-Sujan

Sharon Shipley

IT’S appropriate that Brooke Hawkins works for an architectural company because she wants to help

build a better Columbus.She’s trying to do so by lending her

time and energy to multiple community organizations, such as Columbus Young Professionals, a volunteer-based nonprofit whose mission is to enhance life, community and careers for young professionals in Columbus, according to CYP’s website.

“I really see the value in making Columbus a better place to live, specifi-cally for young people,” said Hawkins, a drafter and designer for Louis Joyner Architect.

Hawkins has been involved in CYP for more than four years and served as president last year. CYP offers fun things to do, professional development and community involvement opportuni-ties, she said.

“If young people can be involved in the community outside of work, that’s what keeps them here,” Hawkins said.

While community involvement is key to retention, community activities are essential for Columbus’ economic growth, she added.

Hawkins assists with other commu-nity groups, such as kidscommons, Healthy Communities, Bartholomew County Historical Society, Family Service, Housing Partnerships, Indiana Landmarks and IU Center for Art and Design.

When she is not drafting or volunteer-ing, you can find Hawkins riding her customized urban bicycle on the People Trails with her fiancé, Joshua Ratliff, entertaining friends at home or min-gling downtown at a community event.

“That’s where you can usually find us,” she said with a grin.

The arts play a significant role in Hawkins’ vision of Columbus in coming years.

“I think there could be a real arts scene here — artists living and creating things. ... That type of scene will, for the rest of the community, attract and make people want to live here and stay here and raise families here and buy property and contribute,” Hawkins said.

Columbus must be attractive to artists to awaken an artistic spirit, she added.

Kelly Wilson, director of IU Center for Art and Design-Columbus, said he is impressed by Hawkins’ deep involve-ment in the community.

“She dreams up projects we can do,” Wilson said.

He said he respects Hawkins’ insight, “but it’s not just all Pollyanna.” He said that she has critical insight and a realistic vision for Columbus, particu-larly in the area of design.

“She is so subtle in her patience and insight to understand how to quietly solve the installation of an exhibition at the art gallery,” Wilson said.

Kristin Munn, partnership manager of Columbus Area Multi-Ethnic Organi-zation, CYP and Leadership Bar-tholomew County, said Hawkins cares about improving Columbus.

“Her passion in community work and enhancement has been really inspiring to me,” Munn said. “She grew up here and chose to stay here and grow her career here. It shows up in all of her work.”

Hawkins said the examples set by Columbus industrialist and philanthro-pist J. Irwin Miller should serve as inspiration for younger community residents and professionals.

“I see all of the potential that (Columbus) has,” Hawkins said. “I see what J. Irwin Miller and his family have left here, and it is such a strong foundation that our community now needs to take ownership of that and continue to build it. ... We have to look at this time as kind of a new era in Columbus and move forward with a different plan to continue to be a really great, innovative city. We have to keep evolving.”

Brooke HawkinsAge: 34

Employer: Louis Joyner Architect

Role: Drafter/designer

Education: Studied drafting at Ivy Tech Community College

Community: Columbus Young Professionals, kidscommons Carnivale fundraising committee, Healthy Communities, Bartholomew County Historical Society, Family Service, Housing Partnerships, Indiana Landmarks and IU Center for Art and Design

Family: Parents, Bob Hawkins and the late Cheri Hawkins; sister, Erin Hawkins; fiancé, Joshua Ratliff.


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Boris Ladwig

Joe Harpring

WHEN SIHO Insurance Services executive Umar Farooq learned in early 2009 that a SIHO intern

Matt Bennett and other Columbus East High school students wanted to start a boys volleyball team, Farooq stepped up to the net.

He talked with East’s athletic director to secure the team some on-court practice time. Together

with Shannon Burch, who coached the team at Columbus North, Farooq helped coach the East team. He made sure the players got uniforms. And he drove them to the matches.

“Without him, we wouldn’t have had a team,” said Bennett, now a junior at Olivet Nazarene University.

The team played six games that first season, and though Bennett said it didn’t have the greatest record, launch-ing the team was fun and a good experience.

Farooq’s boss, Dave Barker, chief executive officer of SIHO, said Farooq’s involvement with the volleyball team reflects his drive to provide help wherever he can.

Farooq, 26, joined SIHO in 2009 and serves as vice president of provider relations. He was recruited at Indiana University by Barker and Chief Finan-cial Officer Marc Rothbart.

The executives offered Farooq a spot in their six-month management train-ing program. Farooq said that intrigued him, especially because he would be getting exposure to lots of aspects in the insurance services field, including sales, finance and marketing.

Farooq said that at a larger firm, he probably would not have had exposure to so many facets of the business. Also, SIHO was a small firm and therefore agile and able to respond quickly to customer demands, which was critical because the industry was undergoing a lot of change. And that, Farooq said, also made the opportunity exciting.

Beyond his involvement in volleyball, Farooq has taken positions with the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, where he serves on the executive committee; the Columbus Area Arts Council; and The Islamic Society of Columbus.

Farooq said some of the community involvement happened because of his interest and others are by accident. For

example, he said he joined the chamber because he has always had an interest in business and entrepreneurship. At the chamber, he can help Columbus remain a fertile environment to help businesses succeed. At the same time, Farooq said, he gets to learn about other businesses.

Columbus stands out in part because of the ease with which people can get involved in the community, he said. In bigger cities, it would be difficult to connect with the right people and to find mentors. In Columbus, a lot of people understand the importance of partner-ships between businesses, government and nonprofits. Farooq said that makes it easier for people to work together to find solutions that benefit everyone.

Barker, the SIHO CEO, said Farooq looks for ways to give back to the community and has shown a dedication to community involvement and leader-ship that is rare among people his age.

“He has a driving urge to make things better,” Barker said.

He and his wife have gotten involved in lots of organizations to improve Columbus, Barker said, and at work, Farooq has developed a reputation among SIHO’s clients, including hospitals, for presenting the latest

health care solutions with great enthusiasm.

“He’s just a joy to be around,” Barker said.

Sometimes you meet people who you think will have a great impact on how business is done, Barker said, and Farooq is one of those people.

Farooq deflects a lot of that praise, saying that he is involved in a lot of organizations he enjoys, and that any successes are the result of his upbring-ing, family, faith, community and especially his wife, Nida.

His parents have told him stories about how difficult life was in India when they were growing up. People here often do not realize the great opportunities they have, from public education to infrastructure to the legal framework that allows businesses to succeed, Farooq said. A lot of immi-grants know these things and have experienced when their basic necessi-ties were challenged, he said, and that helps explain their inspiration and drive to succeed.

Farooq also recently joined the Columbus Area Arts Council, primarily because he liked the “architecture as public art” concept championed by the

late industrialist and philanthropist J. Irwin Miller.

The investments into the communi-ty’s public buildings and churches were made with phenomenal foresight, Farooq said.

And even decades later, the commu-nity continues to benefit from those investments and has a better chance of attracting talent and businesses, he said.

“It truly is inspirational for all,” Farooq said.

His faith also has helped keep him grounded and reminds him to improve his community.

Like a lot of faiths, Islam teaches that you volunteer your time and share your wealth, he said.

It is a duty, Farooq said, quoting John D. Rockefeller: “Every right implies a responsibility; every opportu-nity, an obligation; every possession, a duty.”

His parents instilled in him his work ethic and to never take things and opportunities for granted. And, he said, people in the Columbus community, including his co-workers at SIHO, lead by example.

You cannot have a good business without good people, and you cannot have good people without good educa-tion, Farooq said. In Columbus, that concept is much easier to learn than in big cities, he said, because you can see those connections every day.

Insurance executive dedicated to fostering local ties that bindUmar FarooqAge: 26

Occupation: Vice president of provider relations at SIHO Insurance Services

Resides: Columbus

Family: Wife, Nida

Education: Bachelor’s in finance from Indiana University Kelley School of Business

Leadership roles: Member of the board of directors and the executive committee of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce

Volunteer activities: Former boys volleyball coach for Columbus East High School, treasurer of the Islamic Society of Columbus, Columbus Area Arts Council board member, Health Care Financial Management Association

Hobbies, interests: Spending time with Nida, hiking and biking on the People Trails.

Ensuring strong community


DAWN Andrews moved to Columbus about 12 years ago as a 24-year-old,

relatively unskilled, single mother of two with one vehicle — and little else.

“We were at the poverty level in terms of income,” Andrews said. “We had no family here. There was no one we could turn to. So I started to get involved.”

Andrews reasoned that community service would connect her with influential people capable of helping her family climb out of poverty. Along the way she’s experi-enced enrichment in a variety of ways.

During the past several years, Andrews has donated her time and energies to several causes, including United Way of Bartholomew County, Volunteers in Medicine, Columbus Area Chamber of

Commerce, Columbus Service League and Bartholomew Coun-ty Substance Abuse Committee.

“Being overwhelmed is what motivates Dawn, instead of sitting down and doing noth-

ing,” said Jan Harris, United Way resource development director.

“She’s kind and generous, great at reaching out and has

never met a stranger.”Andrews said the relation-

ships she developed while working with various communi-ty groups did much to build her self-esteem, form a positive reputation and advance her career.

“If you meet someone who is busy, it says something about their personality,” Andrews said.

As Andrews became familiar with Columbus, many in the community got to know her over the airwaves. She served as news director and morning

anchor for WRZQ Radio before transferring into radio advertis-ing sales.

In 2011, Andrews secured a position as business develop-ment manager at Indiana Bank and Trust.

She saw this new job as a golden opportunity and tackled the challenges of learning new skills and responsibilities with a passion.

“I’ve worked extremely hard all of my life,” Andrews said. “I know my strengths, and that’s where I go.”

After proving herself in the banking industry, Andrews accepted a position last Novem-ber as market vice president of retail banking for German American Bancorp.

Andrews hopes to influence other young, single parents to achieve success through her volunteer work with Route 21, a Bartholomew County pro-gram that supports pregnant and parenting young women

and men to becoming empow-ered and productive members of the community.

Andrews said she’s discovered that nurturing a cause for the common good provided her with a sense of fulfillment, not unlike nurturing her kids.

“Obviously, I’m just a mothering person anyway,” said Andrews, who looks after five children with her husband, Scott.

Balancing a career and a large, active family with involve-ment her in community groups is challenging, Andrews said. Often, she gets little sleep.

But she said finding the time to donate one’s abilities for the benefit of the community is possible.

“If someone is not passionate (about volunteering), that’s OK,” Andrews said. “But if you are passionate, focus on work that uses your talents and have fun. You can find a way to fit it all in your schedule.”

Banker started with nothingDawn AndrewsAge: 36

Occupation: Market vice president of retail banking, German American Bancorp

Resides: Columbus

Leadership roles: Board of Directors, Route 21; 2012 campaign committee member for the United Way of Bartholomew County

Volunteer activities: Volunteers in Medicine, Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Service League and Bartholomew County Substance Abuse Committee

Hobbies, interests: Recycling used items to create artwork, photography

Family: Husband, Scott; children, Larry, 17, Luke, 15, Kate, 2, Brenna, 2, Maggie, 1

Mark Webber

Andrew Laker


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Karen E. Farley Sharon Shipley

ETHAN Crough has been speaking in front of people since he was 5. His stories explaining dwarfism to kids in school, co-workers and

America have been repeated in classrooms, at conferences and on stage.

His parents instilled perseverance in him and gave him confidence to face the world in all circumstances.

Crough uses humor, creativity and leadership to inspire people. He encourages people to speak up instead of waiting for opportunities in life.

“If you don’t speak up, no one will hear you,” he said.Since college, Crough has worked in television and

on stage and held various jobs that put him in a crowd of people. He was a tour guide in New York City and worked as a National Park Service guide, a writer in Montana, an actor in New York City and Hollywood and a stand-up comedian.

Since July 2012, Crough has been using his voice to benefit the education of children as executive director of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Foundation.

In his role as executive director, Crough encourag-es the community to support education through volunteering and providing financial resources.

“While Ethan’s enthusiasm and passion set him apart as a very dynamic leader, it is his ability to listen and synthesize what he hears from various voices that makes him an effective and well-respected leader,” said Bill Jensen, director of secondary education at BCSC. “He values diverse voices, and his lifelong experiences with diversity allow him to really understand the concept of inclusiveness and the inherent value of each and every individual.”

As executive director, Crough has met with numer-ous partners and donors and generally gained familiarity with the operations of BCSC.That’s important as he tries to strengthen existing communi-ty partnerships and build new ones. His fundraising plans include a back-to-school bash July 30 at Donner Center and a Feed the Need event Aug. 25 at Tre Bicchieri.

Foundation board member Marsha VanNahmen said she and other board members believe Crough’s passion for partnership building in the schools and

sharing the foundation’s vision has enhanced its work in the community.

“Ethan brought a rich variety of experiences to Columbus and immediately went to work adding value to this community,” said VanNahmen, assistant director for the Center for Teaching and Learning at IUPUC. “Ethan is extremely innovative, his energy level unmatched and his enthusiasm contagious. He inspires others to think creatively about ways the foundation can help to enhance educational experi-ences for all BCSC students.”

When Crough is not busy promoting the foundation and its efforts, he serves as vice president of member-ship for the Little People of America.

“LPA is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with dwarfism,” he said.

As parents, Crough and his wife, Emily, teach their children to advocate for themselves and learn how to manipulate the environment as small people.

“Someday, I would like to write a book with all of my stories that would bring awareness to the public and also deal with issues such as parenting as a small person,” he said.

School foundation director encourages embracing diversity

Ethan CroughAge: 39

Occupation: Executive director at Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Foundation

Resides: Columbus

Family: Wife, Emily Westhafer; two children, ages 7 and 4

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado with major in anthropology, 2002; teaching licensure from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with major in middle school/junior high school social studies, 2010; teaching artist certification

Leadership roles: Vice president of membership for Little People of America

Volunteer activities: Columbus Arts District Design and Architecture Team, Columbus Area Arts Council, Literacy Task Force, Minds on Math, Little People of America Inc.

Hobbies, interests: Gardening, cooking, public speaking, anything outdoors


RAE-LEIGH Stark’s passion for bicycling prompted her to embark on a cross-country ride

from Florida to California.The 2010 trip with the organization

Bike and Build was to raise money and awareness for affordable housing.

“Getting to see the country by bike was amazing,” Stark said.

Her passion for bicycling started during a study-abroad program at the University of Amsterdam. It inspired a desire to help create a community where bicycle transportation was accessible and accepted by local citizens.

“The city (Amsterdam) was built for bicycles, including a parking garage dedicated to bikes. It’s awesome,” Stark said. “Creating a transportation system where someone can get around by bike efficiently and safely is important to me. Not only does it provide an option

for someone who doesn’t want to or can’t afford to drive a car, but it adds more life to the streets; it results in healthy, happy people; and it is environ-mentally friendly.”

Stark, a senior planner with the Columbus-Bartholomew County Planning Depart-ment, is sharing her passion for bicycling with the Columbus community,

through efforts to make it friendly to cyclists.

She helped develop Columbus’ first Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, imple-mented in 2010.

Jeff Bergman, Columbus planning director, has firsthand knowledge of Stark’s professionalism that she brings to the department.

“Rae-Leigh ... took responsibility for organizing and facilitating public workshops and developing all of the plan’s maps,” Bergman said. “Many of

these projects would not have reached their level of success without her involvement.”

At the planning department, Stark also has had a hand in creating the Safe Routes to School plan and developing the Columbus by Bike website pages.

She’s also active in bicycle-related organizations and activities. She is a Columbus Bicycle Co-op volunteer — and past member of its board of directors — and co-founder and leader of the Columbus Women’s Ride.

“The Columbus Women’s Ride began a couple months ago to encourage more women to bike. Women make up such a small percentage of bicyclists, so we want to share the joys of biking with more women,” Stark said.

“It’s a casual, social ride geared for women of all ages and abilities. We rotate leaders each week. There’s three of us. We go over some safety tips at the beginning and talk about the route.

It’s a ton of fun, and we all like to use our bells,” she said.

Stark’s community involvement goes beyond bicycling. She serves as a board member for the Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center, is a volunteer for the local Big Brothers/Big Sister’s program and volunteers as a member of the Columbus Active Transportation Outreach Team, which encourages safety for bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers.

Bergman said dedication and enthusiasm are among Stark’s attri-butes that benefit the community.

“I think anyone who has worked with Rae-Leigh, either through her role with the planning department or on a volunteer basis, quickly understands how interested she is in community issues, how much she enjoys being involved in Columbus and the high level of time and effort she will contribute,” Bergman said.

Passion on a pair of wheelsShannon Parker

Sharon Shipley

Rae-Leigh StarkAge: 28

Occupation: Senior planner, Columbus-Bartholomew County Planning Department

Resides: Columbus

Family: Parents, Russel and Anne Stark of Cincinnati; boyfriend, Chris Schilling

Education: Graduate of University of Cincinnati, 2007, with an urban planning degree

Leadership roles: Project manager, BCSC Safe Routes to School program; Golden Foundry Site Redevelopment Options Study; board member, Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center; Columbus Bicycle Co-op volunteer, past board member; co-founder, Columbus Women’s Ride

Volunteer activities: Big Brothers/Big Sister’s program; volunteers as a member of the Columbus Active Transportation Outreach Team, which encourages safety for bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers

Hobbies, interests: Biking, crafting (including bike-chain jewelry), gardening and running


UNDER

Jeff Tryon

Carla Clark

CUMMINS Inc. is much more than a place of employment for Tracy Embree. It’s the intersection of

her engineering and leadership skills and her passion for mentoring young women.

Embree, a vice president, heads the global turbo technologies business with plants in China,

India, the United Kingdom, Brazil and the U.S.

It’s a job that the 39-year-old hoped to reach by age 50 and one she said she’d “be happy doing for quite a while.”

Embree also enjoys developing young leaders and encouraging everyone around her to make thoughtful choices and be visible about living them.

“I spend a lot of time, and I care a lot about, helping people understand what they are capable of,” she said. “I think it’s a hard thing for a lot of women to realize you’re capable of doing anything you want to do.”

In her dozen years at the interna-tional engine and power generation company, Embree has held a variety of roles, from corporate strategist to account executive and general manager. She recently completed the two-year executive development leadership program at Cummins.

“Cummins has trusted me with some really big things,” she said. “I led Chrysler for Cummins when (Chrysler) went bankrupt, and they asked me to be their lead business person taking them through that. I’d never done that before, and there’s really not a playbook for that. I learned a ton.”

Embree’s core philosophy is making choices and owning them.

“Leadership goes back to owning your choices,” she said. “I have no prob-lem making hard decisions. I’m pretty confident in the things that I decide to do. That’s how you learn, making decisions. Some are great, some not so great. And then you decide, ‘OK, now I have to make the choice of whether to fix it or live with it.’ So, I just view it as a series of choices, and I’m OK to make those choices.”

Embree said it’s important to have confidence in the choices you make.

“Sometimes you have to make hard choices, but you have to own your choic-es,” she said. “I see too many women who have regrets about their choices or who feel like they’ve just done what

other people think they should do because it looks the best, instead of what they really wanted to do.”

Embree encourages people to figure out what they love to do, acknowledge what they’re good at and make choices about those things.

One way Embree mentors young women is her participation in the Cummins Women’s Affinity Group. She makes herself available as a resource or guest speaker.

Colleague Melanie S. Sandlin first worked with Embree on Women’s Affinity Group activities in 2001 and has been impressed by her commitment to developing staff and other leaders at Cummins and her advice to individuals or groups of employees on how to achieve specific career goals.

“She’s contributed in many different capacities through the years, from leading Women’s Affinity Group team, to formally and informally mentoring a countless number of people individual-ly, to speaking engagements, where she shares her experiences with large groups,” Sandlin said.

Embree is committed to honest, open communication at every level, delivers feedback quickly with the intent to improve those around her and sets the right priorities, Sandlin said.

“Tracy brings global experience and broad business knowledge to Colum-bus,” Sandlin said. “She has traveled and lived outside of the U.S., which allows her to help Columbus or Cum-mins become a better community.”

‘Owning your choices’

Tracy EmbreeAge: 39

Occupation: Vice president at Cummins, heading the global turbo Cummins, heading the global turbo Cummins, heading the global turbo technologies business with plants in China, India, the United Kingdom, Brazil and the U.S.

Education: Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from Harvard Business School; recently completed the two-year executive development leadership program at Cummins

Community involvement:Mentoring people individually and in small groups, primarily through Cummins Women’s Affinity Group, and also speaking to large groups

Family: Husband, Kevin; son, Carson, 7


Jeff Tryon

Carla Clark

IN her rise through the ranks of the local banking business, Kim Bennett learned to take chances, try new

things and collaborate with others to do things that hadn’t been done before.

And she believes it’s the same spirit of willingness and

involvement that makes Columbus so rich in community resources and assets.

“Honestly, growing up here, I never really appreciated what a unique community Columbus is,” Bennett said. “After I was working, I became more involved, integrated myself into little community things here and there, and really found out how collaborative people are.

“People here are willing to come together and say, ‘Something needs to be done, and we’re not going to wait for somebody else to do it.’ People organize

groups and get it done. That’s one of the things I really like about Columbus. We’re willing to take ownership, and we’re willing to say, ‘What can we do about it? Who can we get involved?’” she said.

Bennett, 38, is a branch manager for MainSource Bank in charge of all Bartholomew County offices. She started as a teller for Irwin Union Bank in 1994, and by the time she left in 2009, she was an assistant vice president and retail ser-vices manager. She was a key member of the group that opened the first office for MainSource in Columbus in 2009.

“Kim plays a leadership role in our community as well as within our bank,” said Charlie Farber, market president for MainSource. “She is an outstanding role model in both of these areas. She is passionate about making improvements in our community.”

A 2006 graduate and current board

member of Leadership Bartholomew County, she also serves on the board of kidscommons, the United Way Finance Committee and the United Way Com-munity Investment Review Team. She also has helped plan the annual Colum-bus Festival of Lights Parade for more than a decade.

“Early on, someone introduced me to Leadership Bartholomew County, and it gives you a little insight into all the things that go on within the communi-ty,” Bennett said. “You may not realize how much work is going into different organizations, different services that we all use every day and maybe don’t even realize we’re using.

“It’s such a rewarding organization to be a part of, because you’re seeing the contributions people add to the community,” she said. “You’re seeing young, new leaders come in and also more mature people who are looking to

get involved on a volunteer level and see what kind of impact they can make.”

For example, when Bennett was starting her professional career, Columbus’ downtown initiative was mostly conversation.

“There was vision for what the future could be. And now, it’s 20 years later and it’s coming to fruition, maybe beyond what we expected it to,” she said.

Bennett said she is fortunate to live in the Columbus community and enjoys contributing to it.

“If I can contribute in even the tiniest way, to give back and still be doing things that I find interesting and inspiring, I just enjoy that,” she said. “You get to work with people that inspire you with what they want to create and bring to our community and to be a part of that, to see that come to fruition.”

Banker passionate about community

Kim BennettAge: 38

Occupation: Branch manager MainSource Bank, overseeing Bartholomew County offices

Education background: Bachelor of Science in business from Indiana Wesleyan University

Community involvement: 2006 graduate and current board member of Leadership Bartholomew County; serves on board of kidscommons, United Way Finance Committee and United Way Community Investment Review Team; has helped plan annual Columbus Festival of Lights Parade for more than a decade

Family: Husband, Brian; two children, Sarah, 9; Charlie, 2

EFFORTS PAYING OFF


UNDER

Shannon Palmer

Sharon Shipley

MARY Stroh has been looked at as a leader for years. She was elected student council president

at Columbus North High School, chosen as co-captain of the high school soccer

team and was named an officer at her sorority at college.

However, it was her approach to things that led to her being placed in these roles.

“Mary was never concerned with being ‘the best’ at everything, although she is competitive, but she always felt that people and projects deserve her best,” said her mother, Beth Stroh.

Mary Stroh’s best efforts are having an impact in the Columbus community, where she is an attorney with the law firm of Sharpnack Bigley Stroh and Washburn LLP.

“I grew up watching my father (John) practice (law), and I was very interested in the law. I wanted the opportunity to practice with my father, and when I decided to go to law school I hoped to

return to practice with him,” Mary Stroh said.

Mary Stroh became president of the Bartholomew County Bar Association even though she was one of the youngest practicing attorneys in Columbus. Believing that everyone deserves a fair chance, she does pro bono work for Legal Aid, which enables her to advise and represent individuals who otherwise could not afford an attorney.

Stroh also volunteers her time on several community agency boards. Those include:

� Trustee on the regional board of Ivy Tech Community College

� Centra Credit Union board of directors

� Foundation For Youth, youth board of directors

� Children Inc. board of directors � Lincoln-Central Neighborhood

Family Center board of directors � kidscommon’s Carnivale United

Kingdom fundraiser co-chairwoman“I am on several boards that I very

much enjoy. I enjoy different things about

each board, and I am lucky to work with the amazing individuals who dedicate their life to the nonprofits I work with,” Mary Stroh said. “The most rewarding part is seeing the lives that are impacted by the work done by each group. I have been very fortunate in my life, and I am honored to be back in the community.”

When Stroh isn’t representing clients or making decisions for her philanthrop-ic work, she can be found on the soccer field, either participating by playing in one of two co-ed leagues or coaching younger players.

“I play soccer on Monday nights and coach soccer on Tuesdays and Thursdays after work. I try to fit in some sort of exercise each day. Soccer or anything outdoors, actually,” Stroh said.

The rest of her spare time is spent with her husband, Patrick Sobo, renovat-ing a 1900s home in downtown Columbus, which pretty much takes up any extra time she might have. They work count-less hours at this and are determined to restore the home to its original beauty and improving the neighborhood.

Attorney rose to the top throughout life

Mary StrohAge: 28

Occupation: Attorney with the law firm of Sharpnack Bigley Stroh and Washburn LLP

Resides: Columbus

Family: Husband, Patrick Sabo; parents, John and Beth Stroh

Education: Columbus North High School, 2003 graduate; DePauw University, Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, 2007; law degree from the Robert H. McKinney School of Law - Indiana University

Leadership roles: Trustee on the regional board of Ivy Tech Community College; Centra Credit Union board of directors;. Foundation For Youth, youth board of directors; Children Inc. board of directors; Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center board of directors

Volunteer activities: Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Professional Development Conference; kidscommons’ Carnivale United Kingdom fundraiser co-chairwoman; volunteer soccer coach

Hobbies/interests: Soccer, outdoor activities, historic home restoration


WHEN the International School of Columbus was searching for a head of the school, it chose

someone who was born in Puerto Rico and has lived in California, Hawaii, Connecticut, Guatemala, Florida, New York and Colombia.

The international experiences in Jonah Sims’ life and his passion for opening

students’ eyes to the world around them were perfect for the job.

Sims’ introduction to international experiences started at home. His father was from New York, and his mother was from Columbia.

International experiences continued during his educational career.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in English, Sims held education-related positions in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Bogota, Colombia. He was a bilingual consultant for Harcourt International, a provider of tools and resources for educators and parents, in the Panamanian, Venezuelan and Colombian regions, where he achieved an award for top sales and was key in the formation of Harcourt’s

bilingual program. Sims was in Colom-bia when he connected with the interna-tional search for a leader of the newly forming International School of Colum-bus.

His enthusiasm about diversity fuels his desire to teach world awareness to the people under his influence: the students of the International School of Columbus, a tuition-free public school for Grades 7 through 12.

“I love giving kids the ability to have an international education, and I love working with teenagers,” Sims said.

As head of school since 2010, Sims performs many roles: supervising academics, budgeting, managing enrollment, human resources and interacting with parents and students.

“I work almost like a counselor,” Sims said.

The International School of Colum-bus uses the International Baccalaure-ate curriculum, which focuses on English, Spanish, social studies/philosophy, sciences, math and the arts. Sims said the European-devel-oped curriculum teaches students how to answer questions such as: How can we, the people of Columbus, think globally?

Columbus’ strong international ties, through global companies such as Cummins Inc. and the various ethnic community organizations, is one of the reasons Columbus was selected as an international school location, Sims said.

Sims joined the school when it was not yet certified, but it was able to achieve that distinction within a year, said Swadesh Kalsi, a longtime Colum-bus resident and the school’s board chair.

“He saw the potential in the school and came to us rather than to an established school,” Kalsi said. “With

the resources he has, within two years of coming to the school, he has trans-formed the school to what it is now: a model for other IB schools.”

Sims is an unusual leader, Kalsi said.

“I would say that he is an entrepre-neurial risk taker,” Kalsi said.

Under Sims’ leadership, the Interna-tional School of Columbus is one of two International Baccalaureate Organiza-tion schools in the United States that teach the curriculum to all of its students, Kalsi said. Every graduate of the International School of Columbus automatically qualifies for the state’s honors level diploma because of the IB curriculum, Kalsi said.

This year, Sims will see the school’s first graduating class, with every student going on to college.

The school had 130 students enrolled for this school year. Enrollment is projected to increase to 185 students next school year, a sizable jump toward the school’s maximum capacity of 250 students, Kalsi said.

To accommodate that growth, the school is moving its location to 51 N. Brooks St. The new location will include a full-sized auditorium, a gymnasium and a lunch room.

Jonah SimsAge: 38

Occupation: Head of school at the International School of Columbus

Education: Bachelor of Arts in English and American literature, and economics minor from Hofstra Univeristy; master of science in engineering with emphasis on educational technology from Kaplan University

Community involvement: English Advisory Board at Ivy Tech Community College

Family: Wife, Mazzy; sons, Matthew and Joshua

Jenni L. Muncie-SujanSharon Shipley

Enthusiasm for diversity fuels educator’s desire to teach


UNDER

Barney Quick Greg Jones

VOLLEYBALL has been an integral part of Caitlin Greiner’s life. She starred

at Columbus East, played in college and now coaches the sport.

But she wants young girls to understand that it’s more than a fun athletic activity. Greiner wants them to understand it’s also a means to empowering young Columbus residents to live fully and grow continually.

She sees volleyball as a vehicle for imparting overall life skills.

“Coaching allows me to teach concepts like time management,” she said.

Greiner relishes those mo-ments when what she is saying to a young athlete finally connects.

“I see a light bulb go off, and I know they get it,” she said.

Greiner is Columbus North’s varsity girls volleyball coach. She also coaches the Columbus North Volleyball Club, a feeder organi-zation to her team for aspirants in third through eighth grades. She also runs a summer skills camp at North for interested volleyball players.

Jeff Hester, North’s athletic director, said he is pleased to have Greiner as the coach.

“I’ve found her to be very dedicated to her athletes. Even though she’s relatively young, she has characteristics you often associate with older coaches,” he said.

Greiner also volunteered to run a Police Athletic Activities League volleyball clinic at the Foundation For Youth in early May.

“This is my first time running it but am very excited to be asked to help,” she said.

One lesson that Greiner tries to impart to her players is the importance of physical activity, a key to living well, in Greiner’s estimation. She said it’s impor-tant for her to lead by example in that area.

“There’s a disappointment in realizing that your coach or

trainer isn’t really fit,” she said. “If I weren’t a good advocate for what I’m asking others to do, I’d be a fake.”

After playing at East, Greiner played collegiately at Miami of Ohio and then at Indiana Univer-sity, which allowed her to achieve the goal of playing in the Big Ten.

Her IU degree is in exercise science. She worked for a time as a sports trainer for Acceleration Indiana, a regional system of intense, sport-specific instruction.

Athleticism even extends to the balance in her life.

“I’m an avid runner. I ran the Boston Marathon twice. I quali-fied after my first try,” she said.

Her eating habits befit a professional athletics mentor.

“My husband and I love to grill, but for me it’s mostly vegetables,” she said, “And I eat a lot of fish. It’s my only meat.”

Greiner and her husband, Zach, a business banker at MainSource, met at IU. The priority they place on family was a major factor in deciding to settle in Columbus upon graduating.

“I also like the strong commu-nity support system here,” she said.

And as a coach, Greiner said, she is trying to be part of a support system for young athletes.

MORE THAN A GAMECaitlin GreinerAge: 29

Occupation: Office assistant for Kathryn Watts DDS

Resides: Columbus

Family: Husband, Zach

Education: Indiana University, B.S., Exercise Science

Community involvement: Coach, Columbus North girls’ volleyball team and Columbus North girls’ volleyball club; coordinator, PAAL Volleyball Clinic

Hobbies, interests: Running

Coach focuses on empowerment, not just sports


Jenni L. Muncie-SujanSharon Shipley

FRANCES Jordan had a plan for how she was going to help people: She was going to be a lawyer.

The Lexington, Ky., native earned a law degree from the University of Kentucky in 2011.

“I always thought I would be an attorney in the courtroom,” Jordan said.

Then she heard about an open position on the Columbus Human Rights Commission, which assists residents facing discrimination.

Lorraine Smith, director of the com-mission, hired Jordan in July 2011. Jordan is the commission’s deputy director.

Jordan believes she has found a way to use her law degree in a different setting.

“I get to help the people who couldn’t get the help they need. It’s like a hidden gem,” she said.

Columbus is different from and smaller than Jordan’s hometown, but a new place with new opportunities excited her.

“I approached Columbus with an

open slate, and I wanted to try every-thing I could,” Jordan said.

She is trying to provide a door to the community through Columbus Young Professionals. As president this year, she wants to increase awareness of the organization and to bring in people from all professions.

She said that CYP is not only for young professionals but also for people who want young professionals to be involved in their organizations.

She believes that a good model for CYP is the Sunrise Rotary Club. It’s an organization that Jordan said has the “Columbus spirit.” She defines this spirit as “an unrelenting effort to help out your fellow Columbus resident. It’s collaboration.”

While in Columbus, Jordan has participated in the Lugar Series, which she described as a nine-month program that helps conservative women get involved in public service.

“I’ve learned so much about the state of Indiana,” Jordan said.

Columbus has plenty to offer, so she has a healthy social life, she said. Being a “foodie” and watching sports and movies are among her favorite activities.

Jordan said knowing what opportuni-ties for involvement exist in a community is important to overcoming any hesitation about participating.

“Part of the reason some people remain disconnected is because they are unaware of what is available,” Jordan said.

Smith said she is impressed with Jordan’s enthusiasm and the quick way she has integrated herself into the community.

“I think she exhibits first and foremost the qualities that Columbus needs in terms of future leadership,” Smith said. “If you look at it as the changing of the guards, Frances would be on tap.”

While the present is full of excitement for Jordan, she still has her eye on a future that reaches into the occupation she did not choose.

After having attended a performing arts school from fourth grade through her senior high school year, Jordan decided not to pursue dance as a career.

“My ultimate goal in life is to own a community arts center that gives free dance classes,” Jordan said. “Kids learn better when they are using their creativity.”

Frances JordanAge: 27

Occupation: Deputy director of the Columbus Human Rights Commission

Community involvement: Bartholomew Consoldiated School Corp. Foundation Governance Committee, Heritage Fund Scholarship Committee, Sunrise Rotary member, president of Columbus Young Professionals, Columbus Area Multi-Ethnic Organization volunteer, past panelist on United Way Community Impact Review Committee, Big Brothers Big Sisters program, past volunteer on People Trails Working Committee, presenter for community groups and educational institutions, Women’s Giving Circle grants committee member, Community Doula Program Advisory Board member

Education: Bachelor of Science in political science from Tuskegee University; law degree from the University of Kentucky

Family: Parents, Marvin and Connie Jordan; brother, Sinclair; nephew, Justyce; boyfriend, Kellen


UNDER

Barney Quick Carla Clark

WITH a background in electrical engineering and licensing as an

airplane pilot, Caleb Tennis has knowledge of how things operate and how to navigate.

Those skills are having an impact in Columbus through his efforts in the business community and Columbus Regional Airport.

Tennis, president of the Board of Aviation Commission, which oversees Columbus Municipal Airport, obtained his pilot’s license in 2010. He owns and flies a Cessna 182.

The scope of the board’s oversight includes more than just the terminal and runways, Tennis said.

“We’re helping the universi-ties with campuses on our land grow. We’re also focused on enhancing the airport’s function as a gateway to the city,” he said.

He hopes one of his business ventures makes Columbus a destination for companies to store information.

Tennis is president of Data Cave, a company whose facility is a heavily fortified building designed to keep the servers of manufacturers, hospitals, schools and cities safe from any kind of possible disruption.

“It’s kind of like being in the insurance business. After a failure, companies think serious-ly about backup” Tennis said.

The business is growing, demonstrated by the addition of new connectivity carriers in the last few months, he said.

“I think it will make Colum-bus a destination for companies that need that level of access,” Tennis said.

Data Cave is a spinoff compa-ny from Analytical Engineering, Inc., the engine-testing firm where he’d interned and then worked. He and AEI manage-ment saw that his skill set could be applied to a different type of operation. Namely, he would assume responsibility for the information-technology infra-structure for major corporations and public organizations.

“I saw a need for a way of

balancing the income between the two businesses,” he said. “The diesel engine business is quite cyclical, so I looked for a model without so many highs and lows.”

Tennis, a Vigo County native, became involved with AEI while attending Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. He came on board full time in 2001. Data Cave commenced opera-tions in 2009.

Kara Manon, who works with Tennis at Data Cave, describes him as “an excellent and patient teacher who passes along every morsel of knowl-edge he possibly can.”

Tennis has used his back-ground to help local students. From 2002 to 2009, he was an adjunct instructor at the Columbus Ivy Tech campus, teaching such courses as electronics, the Linux operating system and internal logic.

“It was kind of a hobby,” he said.

Tennis hopes to become more involved in civic affairs as he achieves a satisfactory balance between Data Cave, his family and the airport.

“I’ve been asked to partici-pate in some local STEM (science, technology, engineer-ing and math) initiatives, and I imagine I will as my kids grow a bit,” he said.

Engineer works to help city continue soaring

Caleb TennisAge: 33.

Occupation: President, Data Cave

Resides: Columbus

Family: Wife, Anna; two children, ages 3 and 1

Education: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering; Purdue University, Master of Science in electrical engineering

Community involvement: President, Board of Aviation Commission

Hobbies, interests: Flying, blogging, teaching

TAKING OFF


ANNA Carmon’s priorities in life are her faith, family and work. Each influences the other.

She said that, without her faith and family, she wouldn’t be who she is today.

A native of Suffield, Conn., Carmon was raised in a funeral-home family.

Her father and his brothers owned a chain of

funeral homes. Although she only lived at the funeral home the first year of her life, 31-year-old Carmon said growing up she got all the jokes from peers, includ-ing “Do you keep caskets in the base-ment?” and “Do you have dead people in your house?”

She admits being around death and dying all her life has definitely influ-enced her perspective on life.

“I have helped funeral homes serve 29-year-olds who woke up dead,” Car-mon said. “Meaning they went to bed with no medical condition and died in their sleep. I very much know the reality that life is precious, and that’s probably why I pour myself into most everything I do.”

Carmon said her family’s commit-ment to community service has always made it seem natural that when she grew up she’d be a part of the communi-ty she lived in.

“That is one thing I’ve always prided myself on,” Carmon said. “Every community I’ve lived in, regardless of

how long I lived there, I’ve been involved in some community organization.”

Carmon’s community involvement in Bartholomew County is firmly rooted in encouraging lifelong learning.

She coaches the Columbus East High School speech team, has helped lead two IUPUC Speakeasy speech contests and serves as a volunteer in the Book Buddies program with Bartholomew County area schools. She also mentors college students in conducting communi-cation studies academic research.

Recently, Carmon completed her role as primary investigator on the research grant “Threads of Our Diversity: An Oral History of the LGBTQ Community of Bartholomew County” funded by the Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County. Carmon worked closely with the Human Rights Commission, the Inclusive Community Coalition, Ivy Tech Commu-nity College and the Pride Alliance of Columbus gathering the oral histories of the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-questioning community in Columbus, which culminated in the development of a documentary.

“The project offered the opportunity to work with organizations in the community I wouldn’t have sought out myself,” Carmon said.

Kathy Wills, interim head of IUPUC’s Division of Liberal Arts, nominated Carmon for the 20 Under 40 award for her outstanding commitment to both students and the community.

Since joining IUPUC as a research-intensive, tenure-track faculty, the assistant professor of communication studies has helped to grow the commu-nication program by adding courses in family and organization communica-tions and rhetoric.

“She has a great rapport with the students,” Wills said. “She is not bound by her discipline. She sees students as integrated people within the community. And I sense she sees service in life as the same thing.”

Mentoring students offers Carmon the opportunity to encourage them to pursue a lifelong love of learning. She hopes to be a role model who shows students they, too, have it in them to accomplish their dreams if they put in the effort.

Carmon credits her maternal grand-father and her paternal grandmother as her greatest influences. Her grandfather was a first-generation Italian pig farmer who had a work ethic unlike anything she’d ever seen. Carmon said her grandmother is the embodiment of the Carmon name and what it means to be dedicated to the service of others.

“My grandmother taught me the importance of community engagement, and my grandfather has given me this blue collar work ethic,” Carmon said. “It’s been very interesting to have these two individuals juxtaposed against each other, and I have been very fortunate to have them in my life as long as I have.”

Anna CarmonAge: 31

Occupation: Assistant professor, Communication Studies; coordinator of Communication Studies at IUPUC

Resides: Columbus

Family: Father, Rick, 59; mother, Chris, 60; sister, Sara, 29

Education: B.A. communication studies, 2003 from Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; M.A. in communication studies, 2005 from Illinois State University, Normal, Ill.; Ph.D. in communication studies, 2010 from North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D.

Leadership roles: Coach, Columbus East High School Speech Team, 2011 to present; co-chair, IUPUC “Speakeasy”; Book Buddy volunteer; student mentor, communication studies academic research; primary grant investigator, “Threads of Our Diversity: An Oral History of the LGBTQ Community of Bartholomew County”Hobbies/Interests: cooking, sewing and biking

Jennifer WilhiteJoe Harpring


UNDER

SOMETIMES, Jennifer Shaver sees local runners whom she has trained collapse and weep with joy

at the finish line of a race.And perhaps nothing makes her

happier. Well, almost nothing else.“The best

moments for me are when I see those I’ve helped then helping

someone else,” she said.Goodness knows that the 36-year-old

Shaver, director of public services for the Foundation For Youth, has helped plenty of people. They range from youngsters needing simple encourage-ment at the foundation to seniors she has nudged to take up running or others she has directed toward triath-lons.

They also include neglected children she has begun working with as a volunteer with the Court Appointed Special Advocate program.

She connects with youngsters enough that she agreed to a recent interview in a hidden corner of her workplace, well beyond the door of her office just off the foundation pool.

“Kids (otherwise) will be running in and giving hugs every five minutes,” she said with a laugh. “This is the greatest job in the world.”

During a recent late-in-the-day conversation at Foundation For Youth, her phone vibrated every 15 minutes on the table with calls or texts. Though she had been at work since 6 a.m., she remained focused and in the moment. When co-workers Laura Moses and Surekha DiOrio stopped to talk, they were excited when they realized the

interview focused on Shaver’s commu-nity involvement.

“But she’s not quite a Type A (personality),” DiOrio said.

“But she is driven,” Moses said. “Driven to impact others.”

And in ways few will ever know.One out-of-shape adult woman

wanted to begin exercising recently but was embarrassed to let others see her in her swimsuit at the foundation pool. So Shaver met her early on Sunday mornings until the woman could gain self-confidence.

Another woman training for a local triathlon was nervous about the swimming portion. So Shaver and her husband, Dan, met the woman for several swim sessions at Tipton Lake on Sunday afternoons.

“She sees gifts and skills in people,” Moses said.

She sees big possibilities, too. In three years time, she increased

participation in her youth health-and-self-esteem program, Girls On the Run, from five youngsters to 235.

“Actually, the running is secondary,” she said, adding that a recent after-noon with the girls focused on control-ling self-talk and inner thoughts.

Shaver understands that firsthand. When she began competitive swimming just a few years ago and struggled with learning proper strokes, she remem-bers a condemning, fear-laden voice in her head: “You can’t do this. What on earth were you thinking?”

She became more determined than ever to succeed — maybe because she also remembers the voice of her stepfa-ther after her youth basketball games. He often told her she didn’t score enough. Or do this enough. Or that enough.

She wilted at first under the criti-cism. How would she ever be enough? But eventually, she pushed even harder to excel at whatever she tackles.

“It has driven me in positive ways,” she said.

She’s competitive enough that, on a recent Foundation for Youth staff retreat, she beat some of her male counterparts during a friendly pushups face-off. What else would you expect from a girl who grew up with two brothers and two stepbrothers, battling them on the basketball court and elsewhere?

She’s kept her hoops game fairly polished.

“I’m still pretty good at three-point-ers,” she said, looking through a window overlooking the Foundation For Youth court.

But the soft-hearted Shaver would like to take another shot someday. She noticed recently that the former home of the outeach ministry of Youth Hope was for sale in Ogilville. She loves the house and loves the area featuring a lake and plenty of recreation.

So she dreams. She imagines somehow coming alongside more people as an encourager as they race along in life.

“I’d love to buy that house,” she said, “and fill it with kids.”

She doesn’t have the money. But she demonstrates a heart bigger than any bank account.

Even with that attribute, two questions occasionally echo in her head, even this early in her life: “Did I make an impact? Did I leave the world a better place?”

The best answer lies with the children wrapping their arms around her at her job. Or the once-struggling seniors who have regained their physical health because of her.

Jennifer ShaverAge: 36.

Occupation: Public services director at Foundation for Youth

Resides: Columbus

Family: Husband Dan; son Jacob, 11; daughter Winter, 9

Education: Bachelor’s in business management from the Kelley School of Business at IUPUI

Leadership roles: Created the Annual Columbus Youth Triathlon in 2011; council director of Girls on the Run, a self-esteem building program motivating girls ages 8

to 12 to be runners; coordinating, annual Father-Daughter Princess Ball at the Foundation

Volunteer activities: Court Appointed Special Advocate; Learning Tree Preschool board; Family School Partners Advisory Board; Columbus Running Club board member; Columbus Bicycle Co-op board member; Women’s Giving Circle marketing committee; Donner Swim Club; Biddy Basketball coach; Columbus Parks and Recreation soccer coach

Hobbies, interests: Reading self-development and motivational books by authors such as Andy Andrews; and a range of fitness and workout interests from running to swimming to basketball

Brian Blair

Joey Leo

20 under 40 (2013)

Documents

columbus design legacy

brooke hawkins better

columbus young professionals

bartholomew county

different backgrounds

spirit of city

different countries

family business